Saturday, January 05, 2008

DOTTY RANDOLPH WANDERS THE STREETS OF DES MOINES WITH PLENTY OF OPINIONS AND NO ONE TO SHARE THEM WITH.

"EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU A REPORTER?" SHE ASKS EVERYONE SHE PASSES, MOST OF WHOM HAVE KNOWN HER FOR LIFE AND MIGHT LAUGH IN HER FACE WERE IT NOT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY TOO ARE LOOKING FOR JOURNALISTS.

JUST THIS MORNING, A NASTY FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN 81-YEAR-OLD JOHN HARRISON AND 63-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM "SCRAPPY" JOHNSON WHEN THEY BOTH GREETED ONE ANOTHER WITH OBSERVATIONS OF THE WEATHER.

SCRAPPY DID SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE BEFORE THE FIGHT ENDED AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT A CROWD HAD GATHERED AT THE START OF THE PROLONGED FIGHT.

BUT NO ONE TRIED TO STOP THE FIGHT, THEY WERE ALL TOO BUSY SHOUTING OUT THEIR OPINIONS OF IT.

EXPLAINED JONAS BISKIND, A LOCAL DOCTOR, "THE PROBLEM HERE IS TOO MANY STORIES TO TELL AND NO ONE TO TELL THEM TODAY."

OR AS LOCAL DINER WAITRESS INEZ GORNICK EXPLAINED, "WE STILL GOT STORIES TO TELL. PRESS DONE PACKED UP AND MOVED ON US. AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF ASKING US WHAT WE THOUGHT. NOT JUST ABOUT STUFF LIKE THE IRAQ WAR BUT ABOUT STUFF LIKE DO WE THINK HILLARY CLINTON MEANS IT WHEN SHE SMILES AND DO WE THINK MITT ROMNEY'S HAIR IS A LIABILITY OR A PLUS. I MEAN ANSWERING ALL THOSE QUESTIONS MADE US EXPERTS, RIGHT? SO NOW YOU GOT A WHOLE STATE OF EXPERTS TRAINED IN GAS BAGGING AND NO ONE TO GAS BAG TO. IT'S A COME DOWN."

DR. BISKIND HAS ATTEMPTED A REMEDY, SETTING UP A LOCAL STOREFRONT CLINIC ENTITLED "SHARE" WHERE IOWANS COME IN, SIT DOWN ACROSS FROM A PERSON PAID TO PRETEND TO BE A JOURNALIST (WE UNDERSTAND ADAM NAGOURNEY MOONLIGHTS FOR MAD MONEY) AND UNLOADS FOR THE SUM OF $20 BUCKS PER 15 MINUTE PERIOD AS THE PERSON PRETENDING TO BE A JOURNALIST SCRIBBLES DOWN THEIR EVERY SHARED 'REALITY.'

WHEN WE VISITED THE SHARE CLINIC, SOME WERE EXPLAINING HOW THEIR CHICKENS LAYING EGGS INDICATED A GOOD OR BAD ECONOMY AND WE ESPECIALLY ENJOYED JOE TYLER'S EXPLANATION OF WHAT HIS COW BESSIE MEANT IN TERMS OF GLOBAL SECURITY.

World Report notes that January 26th is a day for national demonstrations in Canada in support of war resisters, "The date commemorates the day four years ago when Jeremy Hinzman first applied for refugee status in Canada. The Nelson event, which is planned for the United Church, will be held inside because of the harsh January weather. Ryan Johnson suggests 'some light refreshments and a time to write hand written letters with someone delivering them to the post office afterwards. . . It would be a huge statement to have a box full of letters going to parliament. In Tonronto they are mraching to the Canada Post to drop them in the box'."

What's it about? In Canada where some war resisters went to seek asylum, the Canadian Parliament has the power to let war resisters stay in Canada. November 15th, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the appeals of war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. Parliament is the solution.Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use. Both War Resisters Support Campaign and Courage to Resist are calling for actions from January 24-26.

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 16th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.

Yesterday, three US service members were announced dead by the US military. How did that play out in the media? To note two outlets, Democracy Now! and the New York Times, not very well. DN! covered the four people who died in Turkey in headlines and didn't note the three US service members killed in Iraq. The New York Times noted both on A9 of this morning's paper. Sabrina Tavernise covered "Bomb Explosion Kills 5 in Kurdish Area in Turkey" -- yes, it got it's own story -- and in a 14 paragraph story by Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Khalid al-Ansary, it was noted in paragraph four: "In another development on Thursday, two American soldiers were shot dead and a third soldier was wounded in Diyala Province, the American military said. On Wednesday a soldier was killed by an improvised bomb south of Baghdad, the first death of an American soldier this year." It's not important to US outlets. It doesn't matter. They know nothing about the five killed in Turkey but that's more important to them. It says a great deal.

Meanwhile Donna St. George (Washington Post) reports on Hannah Gunterman McKinney, a woman serving in Iraq who was killed when the man she had sex (apparently consensual but it's sketchy) with ran her over and how her parents, Barbie and Matt Hearvin, were offered a variety of explanations for the September 4, 2006 death, "Her case would become one in a litany of noncombat deaths in Iraq, which number more than 700, from crashes, suicides, illnesses and accidents that sometimes reveal messy truths about life in the war zone. The cases can be especially brutal for parents who lose a child and struggle to understand why. In McKinney's case, many of the details are in a 1,460-page file and court-martial transcript obtained by The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act."

But here we are with troops, with military occupation, with economic occupation and the cultural occupation. They try to erase our memory, our history, our archaeological sites and kill our civilians.In four and a half years, we have lost 1 million Iraqis. And that's terminated, physically. We're not talking about the consequences of conventional weapons, the depleted uranium, the phosphorous, the cluster bombs.As for detentions, the International Red Cross has recorded up to 60,000. And those are security detainees.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

LAND OF THE LOSERS, IOWA. TOO LONG IT HAS ACTED AS THE TONE SETTER FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES. IT CONTINUES TO HOLD THAT TITLE TODAY.

WHILE ELSEWHERE, VOTERS VOTE ONCE FOR ONE CHOICE, IN IOWA THEY CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ALL NIGHT AND DO.

LOSER CANDIDATE DENNIS KUCINICH -- WHO GIVES LIP SERVICE TO ENDING THE ILLEGAL WAR -- HAVE TOLD HIS SUPPORTERS TO VOTE NOT FOR HIM IN THE 2ND ROUND BUT FOR WAR HAWK BARACK OBAMA.

HEY, TURD HEAD, YOU JUST FLUSHED YOUR CAMPAIGN SO DROP OUT OF THE RACE ALREADY. YOU'VE TOLD AMERICA WHAT YOU REALLY THINK OF THE ILLEGAL WAR AND YOU'VE SIGNALED THAT YOU THINK YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN IS USELESS. GET GONE AND STOP EATING UP THE OXYGEN FROM CANDIDATES WILLING TO FIGHT FOR A WIN.

IN FLORIDA -- WHICH THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE IS TRYING TO PUNISH FOR MOVING UP THEIR PRIMARY -- CITIZENS WHO VOTE PICK SELECT THEIR CHOICE AND GO HOME. THERE'S ONE ROUND. NO, "IF I'D KNOWN RICHARDSON WASN'T GOING TO WIN, I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR HILLARY! I WANT A DO OVER! I WANT A DO OVER!"

BUT IN IOWA, YOU GET DO-OVERS ALL THE TIME. IOWA IS NOT TYPICAL OF THE UNITED STATES AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, ELECTION CYCLE AFTER ELECTION CYCLE, BE ABLE TO KICK OFF THE ELECTION CYCLE.

Starting with war resistance, Ehren Watada is noted in Edwin Tanji's (Honolulu Advertiser) reflections on 2007: "Critics of the war engaged in frequent rallies as well as the appearance in April by Bob Watada, father of Lt. Ehren Watada, who is facing court-martial for refusing deployment to Iraq." In June 2006, Watada became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. He based his decision on fact that the Iraq War is illegal. The Christian Sciene Monitor's Dean Paton (at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) explained in October, "When he returned to Fort Lewis, he began researching Iraq. The expose at Abu Ghraib prison fueld his doubts about the war. He read the report of the Iraq Survey Group, a team formed after the 2003 invasion to see if weapons of mass destruction existed. It found they didn't. He studied the United Nations Charter, the Nurember Principles, and the Uniform Code of military Justice. . . . Watada realized that from the moment he swore to 'protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic,' and to 'bear true faith and allegiance to the same,' his solemn oath required him to refuse orders to fight an illegal war." Monica Guzman (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) notes that Paton's column was of "the P-I's 10 most-discussed" and it "touched off debate about the fate of Lt. Ehren Watada, the first Army officer to refuse to deploy to Iraq on grounds that the war is illegal."

Meanwhile, in Canada where some war resisters went to seek asylum, the Canadian Parliament has the power to let war resisters stay in Canada. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use. Both War Resisters Support Campaign and Courage to Resist are calling for actions from January 24-26.

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 16th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.

In other March news, Ashley Casale who took part in the March for Peace is trying to raise awareness on an event that will not schedule actions during Winter Soldier but will have actions before and after, Our Spring Break. March 7th through the 19th, they will be in DC -- with IVAW from the 13th through the 16th. At Common Dreams, she explains this action that young people have planned and are leading on, "This March marks 5 years since the U.S. invaded Iraq for reasons we were too young to understand at the time; as we grew older we learned it was for oil, wealth, and power and not for peace, freedom, and democracy as we were told and most naively believed. Now many young people in America are speaking out daily and pledging to travel to D.C. for our spring break to tell Congress, Bush and Cheney that our spring break will end their war. It may not be as warm as Daytona Beach, but Bush wants us to go there, drink, party and forget about his war. We're not going to go where he wants us to go. We're going to go to him instead."

Common Dreams allow comments and they are revealing: "Hello young Americans!" types Smug & Self-Righteous, "Welcome to the anti-war effort. We've missed you for the past six years and value your long awaited-support." Then you've got BUTT UGLY associated with Lousiville Peace Action Community who says they "HAVE BEEN working SINCE BEFORE this illegal Iraq War" and "WE DELIGHT IN YOUR AWAKENING AND COMMITTING TO THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US."

Let's repeat reality because Smug & Self-Righteous and BUTT UGLY have missed it: Students were active before the illegal war started, have been active since and if you didn't see them (a) that's your own blindness and/or (b) you're suffering some major media damage. BUTT UGLY comes from an organization which, for the record, hasn't ended the illegal war but doesn't mind featuring a video entitled "Students, A Challenge for You!" which is nothing but more youth-hatred masked as "motivation" as Chunky Monkey ,who looks like he hasn't showered since he caught Ween in 1993, let's young people know he's 'f--king' disappointed with them for their inaction (THEY WERE NEVER INACTIVE) including during "the lead up to the war." Define young people, Chunky.

In 2003, how old did they have to be qualify for "young"? 10-years-old? Get serious. No one needs a lazy ass 38-year-old fat, f--k screaming at students about things he knows nothing about.

Students have been active. BUTT UGLY, Chunky Monkey and Smug & Self-Righteous might try learning something before flapping their fat mouths. I'm really sick of this. February 2003, I started visiting campuses to speak about the illegal war. I've been doing that for five years next month. The next time one of these assholes wants to talk about what students have or haven't done, how about they first take their own lazy asses to a high school or college campus? And, for fun, how about not one they can reach while on their 'brisk' walk?

Students have been active from the start. There was huge passion in Feb. 2003 and students were lied to by 'leaders' who said, "This will end the war, this will stop it." March 2003, after the illegal war started, go onto a campus to talk about Iraq then and you had to tell with students who felt outraged by the White House and LIED TO by the leaders. They've spent the last years being active and it's only your smug ingorance that allows you to be unaware of that fact. But they've waited for leaders to share tools and what they've received instead is 'leaders' visiting their campuses telling them "No, don't boo at that event. It will look bad for the movement." and other similar crap. What they've received is a peace movement that closed ranks against them and has not brought them into leadership.

Smug & Self-Righteous, Butt Ugly and Chunky Monkey, the only difference you're seeing and will be seeing is students aren't waiting for leadership to come to them. They've become their own leaders. And if you want to finger point at anyone, aim that middle one at yourselves for not doing a damn thing in the last five years to help the youth get active. The '60s' had the Civil Right Movement as a model. This generation? What have they had? And if you're 38-years-old, you're really in no place to hop on your Huffy bike about what students are doing today -- you're too young to have done anything to end apartheid, and you're too old to have been a "student" during the anti-globization movement.

Your ignorance is no excuse. The fact that you don't know Carla Gomez or Robert Zabala or any of the young people who have been standing up is no excuse. The fact that media has ignored them is no excuse. You decided to weigh in and promote yourselves as 'agents of change' when the reality is that you did and do nothing to further the movement. IVAW, check the faces, is a young organization. Counter-recruiting movements across the country don't just aim to reach the young, they have young people in the ranks and in leadership.

Like a Nation essay winner (truly, they gave a prize for this crap), you come along to tsk-tsk about things you know nothing about. Your gall is appalling. And it goes to the peace movement leadership as well. At the most basic, what the comments (and video) are saying is, "I was here first!" About as valid as Christopher Columbus making that claim. Instead of being happy for Ashley Casale and offering encouragement, these asses want to say, "Well, I've been here from the start. Where were you? Welcome."

I'm not really sure that in January 2008 any of us who were there "from the start" have earned the right to any bragging since the illegal war drags on all this time later. wishiwasinagreenstate posted a response to some of the nonsense which opens with, "Welcome? You've missed us? Thanks for the welcome, but we've been here all along. I was much more active in antiwar groups and activies before I graduated from college in 2005. In fact, the rest of society hasn't really caught up with campus organizing." As Elaine noted last night (and, yes, she was referring to the comments to this article), "I wonder if people realize when they toot their own horns, when they come off so smug to people who are attempting to plan something, they don't look informed, they just look like smug asses. The thing I saw was a young woman writing about an action . . . and the response was all these older types being smug and self-righteous. What they should have done was shut their big mouths."

Our Spring Break's schedule is here. And note, from their home page, "Message to older people: We love you too! Join us." That those much older than Ashley couldn't offer the same kindness in return says a great deal about the sickness in the ranks of the movement, where it's more important to offer, "I did this . . . I did that . . . Welcome, but I was . . ."

Ending the illegal war is going to take the work of many and 'oldsters' need to grasp people coming in are not 'claims jumpers'.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

THE BARACK OBAMA CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT ATTEMPTED A CHARM OFFENSIVE BY SENDING ONE OF THEIR "GURUS" TO SPEAK WITH THESE REPORTERS. UNFORTUNATELY FOR BAMBI, THEY SENT A PROBLEM FROM HELL SAMMY POWER.

SAMMY POWER SHOOK OUT HER BLEACHED HAIR AND DIRECTED US TO "LOOK AT THESE SPLIT ENDS! I AM ON PINS AND NEEDLES WAITING FOR MY BABY BOY TO WIN ON IOWA!"

WE NOTED THAT THE USUAL WAR HAWKS WERE OUT APPLAUDING HER AND WONDERED WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF THE NEW REPUBLIC WRITING ABOUT HER ON DECEMBER 30TH AND 31ST AND MATTHEW YGLESIAS LYING AND SAYING SHE WAS AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR.

"MINI-MATTY'S SO DELICIOUS," SAMMY EXPLAINED CLEANING WHAT WE HOPE WAS NOT A LOADED FIRE ARM, "I COULD POP HIM IN MY MOUTH! HE CAN SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS AS LONG AS HE KEEPS REFERRING TO SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON AS 'BILL CLINTON'S WIFE'. HEH-HEH. MINI-MATTY CAN LIE AS LONG AS HE KEEPS TELLING IT LIKE IT IS."

SAMMY POWER THEN STOPPED CLEANING HER FIREARM AND TOOK OUT A BAGGIE OF WHITE POWDER. AFTER SNORTING IT, SHE SAID, "OH, I'M SORRY. DID YOU WANT SOME? IT'S MADE FROM THE BONES OF DEAD IRAQIS. I LOVE DEAD PEOPLE. THEY GET ME HIGH. THAT'S WHY I STILL DON'T CALL OUT THE IRAQ WAR. THE ONLY TIME I MENTION IT IS WHEN I'M ITCHING IN MY LOINS FOR DARFUR. DID YOU HEAR? A 'DIPLOMAT' DIED THERE. HE WAS WITH U.S. A.I.D. WHICH IS NOTHING BUT A GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM WE USE TO BULLY PEOPLE. I WONDER IF MY BUDDY SARAH SEWER TOOK HIM OUT TO GET THIS MOTHER F**KING WAR WITH SUDAN STARTED? SHE TOLD ME SHE HADN'T HAD A CLIMAX SINCE NOVEMBER 2004, YOU KNOW, WHEN U.S. FORCES SLAUGHTERED FALLUJA. ME AND SARAH ARE GOING SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, LIKE LAVERNE & SHIRLEY ONLY LESS PRETTY. AND MONTY'S OUR BOO-BOO KITTY. OR THE BIG RAGOO. I'M NOT SURE WHICH. OH! YEAH! I CAN FEEL IT NOW! GOOD BLOW. GOOD BONES. BAMBI IN THE WHITE HOUSE GOING TO GIVE MAMA ALL THE WARS! MAMA LIKES KILLING, KILLING, KILLING, MAMA LIKES KILLING INNOCENTS MUST DIE. MAMA LIKES KILLING, KILLING, KILLING, MAMA LIKES KILING INNOCENTS MUST DIE. HEY, COULD YOU CRACK A WINDOW? THERE'S AN ODOR IN THE ROOM."

SAMMY SNIFFED THE AIR A FEW TIMES AND THEN ASKED, "IS IT ME? HEY, IF YOU TWO WILL PROMISE TO KILL SOME PEOPLE ON THE WAY HOME, I'LL MAKE IT WITH BOTH OF YOU. MY CODENAME IN THE CAMPAIGN IS 'STINK BOMB' -- WANNA KNOW WHY?"

THESE REPORTERS CONTACTED THE BARACK OBAMA CAMPAIGN AND SKETCHED OUT THE BIZARRE BEHAVIOR OF A PROBLEM FROM HELL: SAMMY POWER AND WERE TOLD, "UH . . . WE DON'T KNOW HER! WHO IS SHE? IS SHE OPRAH? NO. SO SHE'S NOT SPEAKING FOR BAMBI. DON'T WRITE ABOUT THIS! WE CAN SEND YOU N.B.A. STAR MANUTE BOL."

THESE REPORTERS EXPLAINED THEIR TIME WAS LIMITED AND DIDN'T HAVE IT TO WASTE ON A NOTHING BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO BOUNCED FROM TEAM TO TEAM AND WAS SO BAD THAT DURING THE 1993-1994 SEASON HE WAS BOUNCED TO THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS AND IN THE 1994-1995 SEASON HE PLAYED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE ENDING HIS NON-STARRING CAREER.

"DON'T DO THAT," WE TOLD THE CAMPAIGN. "DON'T LIE LIKE THAT AND DISGRACE REAL N.B.A. STARS LIKE BARKLEY AND BYRD. YOU CLEARLY HAVE NO SHAME."

Starting with war resistance. Little Artie Weinreb (of the right-wing Canada Free Press) blows a gasket over war resisters in a post entitled, "Canada readies to give U.S. deserters refuge." The foam from Artie's mouth makes it hard to understand him or maybe it's Artie who doesn't understand? That would explain why he can argue that Jeremy Hinzman served in Afhganistan, so he can't be a CO! Actually he can be . . . even if he served in Afghanistan. But, for the record, Hinzman served in a non-combat role and that was due to his beliefs about war. It's not strange that Artie doesn't know US policies -- he is Canadian -- but he appears to feel it's just him and the US' Peggy Noons standing up for the red, white and blue. Maple left, Artie, remember the maple leaf.

The fact that Artie's launching a pre-emptive strike on a potential vote in Canada's Parliament (he says this month but most say the earliest a vote could come would be February) can be seen as good thing in that it demonstrates Artie thinks there's a good chance it will pass. But that's only if people make their voices heard. The Canadian Parliament has the power to let war resisters stay in Canada. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use. Both War Resisters Support Campaign and Courage to Resist are calling for actions from January 24-26.

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 16th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.

Recapping since Monday's snapshot. Tuesday was January 1st and Solomon Moore and Stephen Farrell (New York Times) covered the glitterati of Baghdad, where, at the capital's two biggest hotels, "scores of perfumed and bare-headed Iraqi women" turned out for New Year's Eve. Robin Leach in the Green Zone. Baghdad Country Club, in fact, bills itself thusly: "In the world of chaos which is Baghdad there is an oasis of calm. If James Bond were to walk of the pages of a book; if Hemingway was again reporting on the world's troubles, they could probably both be found relaxing over a drink at the Baghdad Country Club. So if you happen to be in central Baghdad and know a person . . . " But remember: "No weapons are allowed in the club. The management is happy to secure any firearms, grenades, flash bangs or knives in the club armory." Maybe you're in the mood for Salmon with White Wine Caper Sauce? Or Chicken Crepe Riviera? Their wine list, sadly, is effected by "political and meterological climate" so the oldest vintage they offer on the list is a 1982 Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, 1er Grand Cru Classe. But if you're in the mood for port, they go back to 1955 with that. And just because the US is occupying the country doesn't mean that they can't offer Cuban cigars (Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas and more). (The country club is inside the Green Zone, for any who didn't already get that.) Brian Bennett (Time magazine) reported on it last April and noted it opened in October of 2006. It was left to an Iraqi correspondent for McClatchy to explain the 'joys' weren't all that and what it's like to take away a balloon from a child for fear that it may contain poisonous gas.

AND WHEN THESE REPORTERS CHECKED WITH SENATOR BOXER'S OFFICE TODAY, WE WERE INFORMED THAT, NO, SHE WAS NOT A "VOTING RIGHTS ATTORNEY." WHICH WOULD SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT BAMBI'S EITHER INFLATING HIS RESUME YET AGAIN OR IT'S MORE CHICKEN SOP FOR THE SOUL FROM THE COWARD OF THE COUNTRY WHO CAN'T STAND UP FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN A GROWN MAN'S RIGHT TO WEAR EYE LINER.

Ghanim Khalil: In February 2003, I had contacted Citizen Soldier. The director is Todd Ensign. He's someone who's been working with military people and vets for a long time and between me and him we thought the best option was for me to have a press conference because I tried to solve it in the military You know -- I went to my chaplain, I went to my staff N.C.O.s. and the best thing, the most safest thing for me, and I really, really care about the principles here, the safest thing for me was to have a press conference to let the military know how I feel, to let people -- the American people -- know how a soldier feels -- how a former Marine feels, and then see what happens from there. And that's why I held a press conference because I thought I can't keep silent and I knew the war was going to happen. I wasn't one of those people who thought, you know, maybe this thing is going to go away, that diplomacy was going to win out, I knew the war was going to happen because the war had started six months prior before with the bombardment had already started -- and people knew that -- and so that's what led up to the press conference and the press conference is where I said, you know, 'These are my reasons 1-2-3, A-B-C why I think this war is illegal and immoral and I don't want to be a part of it. I think it's unconstitutional.' That's why I had the press conference.

The press conference was held before a rally at the United Nations February 15th with Khalil declaring, "I have objections to this war. I believe that this war is for material gain. I believe that this war will lead to security problems for the American people and that our children will be endangered in the future." At the rally itself, he declared, "Today, I am in a position to make a difference or remain silent. Will I participate in a war which could lead to hundreds of thousands of civilian dead, endanger the safety of the American people and create chaos in the Middle East, all to benefit a few powerful and wealthy people? This war will spread hatred between America and the Muslim world. It is the duty of educated groups on both sides to put down our masks and weapons, so that there can be a dialogue -- not a clash -- of civilizations. Today, I'm making my choice and it's to make a difference."

Khalil discussed his book Contemplating Dissent: Why Saying No To The War In Iraq Was The Right thing To Do From a Muslim Perspective. The book is currently not available at Courage to Resist; however, added to the books, DVDs, postcards and clothing they do offer is Michelle Mason's must-see documentary Breaking Ranks featuring war resisters in Canada. And on that topic . . .

On November 15th, the Canadian Supreme Court refused to hear the appeals of war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey? Does he even care? Judging by his column, the answer is no. An over hyped voice of the 'left' gives the greatest gift of all in 2007: The reality of how little the alleged 'left' cares about ending the illegal war. (Give to the DNC! Give to two presidential candidates who refuse to promise, that if elected in 2008, they would pull out the troops by 2013!) That just about sums it all up. In the real world, the Canadian Parliament has the power to let war resisters stay in Canada. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use. Both War Resisters Support Campaign and Courage to Resist are calling for actions from January 24-26.

Iraq War resister Ehren Watada is the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to the illegal war (June 2006). Phil Tajitsu Nash (Asian Week) mentions Watada and others (such as US House Rep Mike Honda) as he selects his choice for APA Person of the Year (attorney Michael Yaki who currently sits on the US Commission on Civil Rights). Meanwhile videographer Joseph La Sac cites Watada to Stacey Mulick (Tacoma's The News Tribune) who notes that "while filming at a rally related to Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, two military police officers told La Sac that he had to erase footage of military police and the gate at Fort Lewis. Not knowing any better, La Sac said he compiled. 'It's just heightened my awareness and other people's awareness regarding issues of freedom of the press,' La Sac, now a senior at the University of Puget Sound, said last week." La Sac now carries a card listing "the rights of photographers".

Watada went public in June of 2006. In August 2006, an Article 32 hearing was held. Following that it was stated that the military intended to court-martial Watada. The court-martial took place in February 2007. At that point, Watada's service was up (December 2006) but the military was keeping him to court-martial him. The Feb. court-martial was presided over by Judge Toilet (John Head) who refused to allow Watada to present a defense (not being allowed to explain motive is being refused a defense) and who, in the end, refused to obey the Constitution. On Monday, February 5th, Watada's court-martial began. It continued on Tuesday when the prosecution argued their case. Wednesday, Watada was to take the stand in his semi-defense.Over defense objection, Judge Toilet ruled a mistrial thus ending the court-martial. In doing so, the legal reading should be Watada walks. Double-jeopardy should take care of that.

Judge Toilet stated Watada would be court-martialed again in March of 2007. Didn't happen. Judge Toilet said it was coming, just you wait. November 8th Judge Benjamin Settle, a US District Court judge, put Head's planned court-martial on hold where it currently remains. Repeating, Watada's service contract ended in December 2006. He continues to report for assignments on base. The military should have released him long ago. He has now been extended a year just to court-martial him. Watada needs to be discharged immediately. Watada's story was one of the important ones in 2007 and had many victories. But, outside of Asian-geared media, see who mentions him. (Don't worry, we'll get there in this snapshot.)

In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

March 13th through 16th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.